KABUL:
Amid speculations doing the rounds vis-à-vis a possible U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan,
NATOhas touted resilience of Afghan army and police in ensuring security for the
past four years.

“We have seen the reports. For any comments, I refer you to
the US authorities. In general, let me remind you that the Afghan army and
police have been fully in charge of the security of Afghanistan for over four
years,” NATO alliance spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in an exclusive
interview.

These remarks come amid US President Donald Trump’s
announcement of withdrawing nearly 7,000 American troops from the country
within months.

Lungescu said that Afghan forces are a brave, committed and an
increasingly capable force, which have ensured the security of the
parliamentary elections earlier this year. NATO leads a coalition of 41 nations
in our Resolute Support Mission. Our aim is to train, advice and assist the
Afghan forces, as they create the conditions for peace, she said.

At the NATO Summit in July, Allied leaders also agreed to
extend funding for the Afghan security forces until 2024. Earlier this month,
NATO Foreign Ministers expressed steadfast commitment to ensuring long-term
security and stability in Afghanistan, the NATO Spokesperson said.

“Our engagement is important to ensure that Afghanistan
never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists who could threaten
us at home,” she added.